Public transport in the Manawatū-Whanganui Region
A Palmerston North urban-services bus, with a livery promoting the usage of the Bee Card ticketing system
Overview
Locale	Manawatū-Whanganui
Transit type	commuter rail, bus, elevator
Annual ridership	Bus: 1,085,821 (2023/24)(+30.32%) 831,826 (2022/23)
Website	www.horizons.govt.nz/buses-transport

The Manawatū-Whanganui Region is currently served by a sparsely-developed public transport system but is beginning to see some new developments.

Public transport in the region is primarily provided by bus services that are managed by the regional council (which operates under the name Horizons Regional Council).^[1]

Passenger rail is limited, but the region is served by some services. The Capital Connection links the city of Palmerston North, as well as the towns of Shannon and Levin, to the Wellington Region. The train runs daily as a single morning commuter service into Wellington, before operating a return service in the afternoon. Additionally, the Northern Explorer stops in Palmerston North and Taumarunui six-times-a-week (three in each direction) while travelling between Auckland and Wellington.^[2] Taumarunui had previously been removed as a regular scheduled stop in 2012, but was reintroduced in 2022 after extensive lobbying from locals.^[3]

The region is unique in New Zealand for having an elevator as a public transport mode. The Durie Hill Elevator, in the city of Whanganui, provides access between the city centre and the suburb of Durie Hill and has been operating since 1919.^[4][5]

As the region consists of two cities as well as numerous towns and rural areas, bus services operate as part of three distinct networks that interconnect. An urban network serves Palmerston North (as well as Fielding) while another separate urban network serves Whanganui. A network of regional bus services connect the two cities to each other as well as the wider region.^[6]

The Palmerston North bus network consists of 12 lines, which converge in the city centre. Most lines are paired with another, and run in opposite directions along the same route. The neighbouring village of Ashhurst is connected to Palmerston North's urban bus services, as is the city's airport and Massey University.

Palmerston North's bus fleet became the country's first all-electric-vehicle fleet in 2024.^[7]

The Palmerston North bus lines were refreshed in 2024. Ridership in August 2024 was at 99,156, an increase of over 20,000 compared to August 2023, and an increase of over 41,000 compared to August 2022.^[8]

The Whanganui urban bus network consists of ten routes which converge on the city centre where multiple routes run parallel along a common corridor. For the last few decades, the city has had a bus network focused on coverage with a large number of low-frequency bus routes aimed at providing service coverage to most areas. As a result, most routes are infrequent and only operate every two hours. However, in 2023, the city saw the introduction of a high-frequency bus route focused on patronage and moving large passenger numbers. The route, named Te Ngaru The Tide, runs on 20-minute frequencies between Castlecliff and Aramoho via the city centre bus corridor. In its first month of operation, the city saw an 86 percent increase in urban public transport trips when compared to the same month in the previous year.^{[9][10][11][6][12]}

Some of the region's smaller towns and villages are inter-connected with 6 bus lines. Feilding is also served by its own "Orbiter" service.

The surveying of many of the region’s settlements -and particularly those away from the coast- coincided with the development of the North Island Main Trunk line during the late 19th century. This resulted in many settlements being served by passenger rail.

Declines in passenger railway investments during the 20th century now means that only Palmerston North, Levin and Shannon are served by regular passenger train services. The Capital Connection connects these stations to the Kapiti Coast and Wellington, while the Northern Explorer also serves Palmerston North.

It is proposed that the Capital Connection’s services be expanded as to enable trains to run multiple times per day.^[17]

A tram system was proposed for Palmerston North in 1912 but was not implemented due to the First World War. Buses were ultimately chosen over trams and started services in 1921.

A rapid transit monorail system was proposed for Palmerston North in 1972. The service would have had three stops: Massey University at one end, the Square at the other end, and the Lido Aquatic Centre in the middle.^[18] The project was not implemented.